Sports: Pro Sports

Nuggets hold off Toronto Raptors for home victory

Denver Nuggets small forward Kenneth Faried is pressed against the base of the basket by Toronto Raptors center Andrea Bargnani during the first half on Monday at the Pepsi Center. More photos.
(AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

JaVale McGee had just blocked two shots on the same Toronto Raptors possession — one beyond the 3-point line and one underneath the hoop. After the second, he raced downcourt ahead of everybody and went up to slam the basketball through the net. If not for a bad pass by Cory Brewer, McGee almost certainly would have made good on his attempt.

That was one of the only things that didn't go McGee's way in the third quarter and overall in the Nuggets' 113-110 win over the Raptors on Monday night at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets received a major scare late in the fourth quarter by a Raptors team that awoke to cut a 17-point lead after three quarters to one point with about three minutes left.

Denver Nuggets small forward Corey Brewer dunks against the Toronto Raptors during the first half on Monday at the Pepsi Center. ( AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

McGee's 17 points in his first 22 minutes, along with five blocked shots, were difference-makers in Denver's win, which broke a three-game losing streak. Unfortunately for the Nuggets, they won't be in front of a friendly crowd again for a while, with a tough, five-game road trip beckoning.

"It wasn't a bad pass," McGee said, correcting a reporter. "I just missed it. When I'm having a good game defensively, the offense just comes."

Six players finished in double figures for the Nuggets, who had to scramble late against the 4-14 Raptors after leading comfortably most of the game. McGee, coming off the bench, was a disruptive force on the defensive end. That is his calling card as a player, though he can produce points in a hurry too, when the Nuggets get going in a running game off opposing misses.

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McGee probably thought his night was done when he left the floor early in the fourth, in favor of starter Kosta Koufos. But the Raptors forced him back in with a furious late charge. McGee did not provide any other heroics, but he helped stabilize a game that nearly slipped away.

"We've got to close out better than that," Nuggets guard Ty Lawson said. "We almost let it get away. It's just about staying focused and not letting up. We can't let a team come back like that on our court."

Toronto cut the margin to 105-104 with a little less than three minutes left, but Lawson hit a clutch 3-pointer to push it back to at least a two-possession game.

"It wasn't designed," Lawson said. (Andre) Iguodala attacked, and I just moved to the open spot. I was wide open and knocked it down."

The closest Toronto got from there was 112-110, but Kenneth Faried made one of two free throws and the Raptors missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

Now comes another long road trip. The Nuggets, who have only played six games at home among their 18 so far, feel they are ready for success.

"On the road is where you find character, where you find chemistry," McGee said.